So This Is what The New Starbucks Boutique Store At Tampines Looks Like

First of all, despite the fact that they're calling it a boutique, it's still a space filled with tables, chairs and the aroma of coffee, rather than, you know, a boutique where you buy stuff. Of course, there's a shelf of your usual Starbucks merchandise, but it's no bigger than the ones at regular Starbucks joints. What makes the new Tampines boutique different is that it's one of a handful of double-storied Starbucks outlets in Singapore, and the only Starbucks in the heartlands (there are only two other outlets that have it) to boast the VA388 Black Eagle Espresso Machine, which, in a nutshell (or should we say, in a coffee bean) makes better java than normal machines. The two-storey glass-panelled building also stands out and makes it worthy of being Singapore's first Starbucks boutique store, which aims to provide customers with new coffee experiences, as the F&B giant celebrates 22 years in SG.

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New and improved in Tampines.

What used to be a high-ceilinged one-storey building outside Tampines Mall has been completely renovated to become a two-storey structure replete with glass panels and natural light. The concentric circle-like design on the ceiling is meant to replicate a coffee drip.

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A whole latte love.

Some of the floor tiles of the boutique are stamped with latte art.

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Pouring is his calling.

Sasti is the Starbucks Regional Barista Champion, which means he beat a lot of other baristas in the region in a big competition and is extremely skilled in latte art and everything coffee-related. Here, he's showing us how to make latte art. It's really harder than it looks.

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It takes years of practice to be able to do this.

Sasti's masterpiece. It's a phoenix with an inverted tulip, which ranks pretty high on the difficulty level. When we tried our hand at latte art, we managed... a blob. Not pretty.

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Not a tattoo design you see every day.

So committed and passionate is Sasti about his craft, he has a portafilter tattooed on his forearm. A portafilter is a critical piece of equipment when it comes to making good coffee with an espresso machine. FYI, Sasti is usually based at the United Square Shopping Mall store.

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The star of the show.

The vaunted VA388 Black Eagle Espresso Machine, which is currently only available at two other Starbucks outlets. This baby allows the barista full control over the consistency and precision in every aspect of a coffee – from bean ratio to brewing time and water temperature – directly impacting the barista to customer connection. Layman speak: Expect the coffee here to be better than usual lah.

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Liquid gold.

Hard to imagine these little cups of liquid can make people so happy (and energetic).

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It's all in the pour...

Another coffee master shows off his latte art skillz. Qi Wei concentrating intently on his unusual masterpiece, which is a...

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Coffee buzzzz

Bee! Do you see it? This design is achievable only with great practice and skill. Also, we learned that it's not just the pouring that creates great art, it's also in how you tilt and angle the cup that you're pouring the milk into.

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It's the only time you'll see a Starbucks this empty.

The light-filled upper level of the Tampines boutique, which boasts a world map of coffee-producing regions.

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The cool brew crew.

Starbucks' creme de la creme from its various stores descended upon the Tampines boutique for its launch. The Coffee Masters and baristas here will wear special denim aprons instead of the usual green aprons 'cos they're cool like that. Also, FYI, Starbucks baristas and other staff are called "partners", not employees.

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A coffee education.

The boutique store will also feature beverages like the Nitro Cold Brew (which is poured like a Guinness Stout and looks like one, too) and handcrafted manual brew methods like Pour Over coffee. Wanna learn more about your fave brew? Hang out at the bar and your friendly barista may just give you a crash course in coffee tasting and brewing.